Inflatable valved bag



Feb. 19, 1929.

M. W. IDEN INFLATABLE VALVED BAG Filed May 28, 1926 ATTORNEYS 3 PatentedFeb. 19, 1929. V

MAX WILHELM IDEN, OF ALTONA, GERMANY.

INFLATABLE VALVED BAG.

Application filed May 28, 1926, Serial 110. 112,190, and in Germany June26, 1925.

My present invention relates to inflatable bags such as are used forfootballs and like sporting implements, and has for its object toprovide improved means for closing the opening or tube through whichsuch bags are inflated. In constructions of this type as now in commonuse, the inflatable bag is provided with an inflating tube whichprojects from the bag permanently, and this is a drawback since iteXposes the tube to injury and also makes it impossible for theinflatable bag to lie smoothly against the inner surface of the encasingenvelop or cover, at the point where such inflating tube projects. Mypresent invention enables the inflating tube to be retracted or pushedback into the bag or bladder, thereby placing it in a well protectedposition and enabling the outer surface of the bag or bladder to liesmoothly against the inner surface of the cover at all points, even atits point of connection with the inflating tube. Several typical andsatisfactory embodiments of my invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is apartial section through the bag or bladder and its inflating tube, withthe latter in the projected position used during inflation; Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing the inflating tube pushed back into the bladderafter inflation and the sealing plug or valve in position to prevent theescape of air; Fig. 3 is a section showing a bag provided with aninflating tube of a type slightly different from the one shown in Figs.1 and 2; Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section of a sealing plug or valvefor use in connection with an inflating tube of the type shown in Fig.3; Fig.

' 5 is a view of the same character as Fig. 2, but

with an inflation tube of a diiferent construction; Fig. 6 is a detaillongitudinal section of the inflation tube shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7is an end view of such tube with a plate attached thereto.

In the construction illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the body 10 of thebladder is provided with an opening and with a re-inforcement 11 offabric or other suitable material adjacent to said opening, saidre-inforcement being applied to the outer surface of the bladderandbeing extended to form a reinforcing layer 11 on a tubular projection 12provided on the bladder at said opening. The edge of said projection ornipple12 is folded inwardly as indicated at 12 and there vulcanized orotherwise secured to the inflating tube 13. The parts 10, 12, and 13 aregenerally made of rubher. In Fig. 1, which shows the nipple and theinflating tube in the outwardly-projected position, I have illustrated aform of inflating tube which is closed at the inner end, except for oneor more perforations 13.

WVhen the partsare in the position shown in Fig. 1, a pump of thewell-known type can be connected readily with the outer end of the tube13 to inflate the bladder; the latter at that time is contained withinan encasing envelop or cover of leather or other suitable material,indicated at 1 1. After such inflation, the tube 13 is closed byinserting a suitable sealing member, plug, or valve. In the formillustrated by Fig. 2, this member comprises a rod or plug 15 preferablymade of relatively stiff material, such as wood, horn, hard rubber, etc.and of pro-per dimensions to lit within the tube 13 and to extend intoit far enough to cover and close the opening or openings 13. At itsouter end, the rod or plug 15 is provided with a constriction or groove15 for securing thereto, by means of a string 16 or the i like, asuitable handle 17 which may consist of a strip of leather or textilefabric After this valve has been inserted into the inflat ing tube 13until the openings l3 are closed,

an inward pressure is exerted on the outer end a.

of the valve to cause the inflating tube 13 to be forced intorthebladder 10, until such tube reaches the position shown in F ig. 2. Itwill be noted that the fold 12 causes the main portion of the tubularprojection or nipple 12 to be out of contact with the inflating tube 13.Thus, as the tube 13 is pushed inwardly into the bladder 10, the nipple12 surrounding the tube 13 will, as it were, roll along the same andbecome reversed, or turned inside out, since in Fig. 1 the layer 11forms the outer surface of the nipple, while in Fig. 2 such layer lieson the inside of the nipple. In the final position, the nipple isentirely within the bladder 10; the pressure of the air inside thebladder has no tendency to push the nipple out, but rather holds itfirmly in such inner position. When it is desired. to bring the nippleto the outer or projected position shown in Fig. 1, the handle 1? isgrasped'and the plug or sealing member pulled out to gether with theinflating tube 13, and as this tube is pulled out, the nipple 12 isagain for-med into a fold 12 and is gradually reversed by a kind ofrolling motion, so as to return to the fully-extended condition'shown inFig. 1. If then the valve member is pulled further by means of thehandle formed by the strip or flap 17, this Will separate such valvemember from the inflating tube 13, and allow air to escape so as todeflate the bladder 10. When the nipple 12 is in the innermost position,Fig. 2, the handle 17 will lie flat and practically flush on the outersurface of the bladder, so that the latter can lie smoothly against theinner surface of the envelop or cover 14., without forming a bulgetherein.

In l lig. 3, the parts 10, 11. 11, 12, and 12 are of the sameconstruction as described above, but the inflating tube 13", instead ofbeing closed at its inner end, is open at this point, and the lateralapertures 13 are thus dispensed with. in. this case, I prefer to employa sealing member or valve of the type shown in Fig. 1. The rod or plug15 may be of the same character as set forth above, and is adapted to beslipped or pushed into the inflating tube 13". This rod is provided witha sheath 18 made of rubber, preferably not quite the full length of therod or core 15. The closed end oi the sheath may be held in place on theconstriction 15 of the rod by the same string 16 which secures the flapor strip 17 forming a handle for said rod. The open end of the sheath ispreferably thickened or beaded, as shown at 18. After the or bladder hasbeen inflated, the free end the rod is inserted into the outer end oithe tube 13, the sheath 18 having previously been rolled back until thebead 18 is quite close to the handle 17. The rod 15 having then beeninserted into the tube 13 as far as the rolled sheath will permit, suchsheath is pulled or rolled down over the inflating tube so as tosurround the latter and form a reliable seal. Then the valve, inflatingtube, and nipple are pushed in, causing the nipple to turn inside out asin the form of my invention first described. W hen it is desired todeflate the bladder, the parts are pulled out by means of the handle 17,the sheath 18 is rolled back from the inflating tube 13", and the valveremoved to allow the escape of air. The advantages of this form of myinvention are substantially the same as in the case of the construction.illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2.

Still another form of my invention is shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 Again,the parts 10, 11, 11', 12 and 12 are of the same structure andarrangement as described above. The inflating tube 13 has a closed innerend and one or more apertures '13 adapted to be closed by the core orrod 15 ot the valve, the latter being of the same type as in ii 9;. 2,with a handle 17 fastened by a string 16 in the constriction 15. Inorder to prevent the in flating tube 18 from stretching lengthwise, Ihave secured to its outside longitudinal strips 20 of practicallyinextensible material (textile fabric, as a rule). The free ends ofthese strips 20 are passed through slits 21 in a plate 21 surroundingthe outer end oi the inflating tube 18, said strip ends being then bentinwardly to clamp and secure them between the inner edge of the plate521 and the outer surface of the tube 13, it being understood that theplate has a central aperture to receive the outer end of the inflatingtube. The operation o'i'i this form of my invention Will be the same,substantially, as described in connection with Figs. 1 to so that nofurther exp anation will be required; the advantages, too, arepractically the same as in the other forms oi my invention.

I claim:

1. An inflatable bag provided with a nipple adapted to be projected fromthe bag and to be turned inside out and. retracted into the bag, and aninflating tube located within said nipple and connected with the treeend thereof by a nipple portion which forms a fold in the projectedposition of the nipple.

2. An inflatable bag provided with a nipple the free end of which isadapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respectto the said bag,ant. an inflating tube carried by said nipple, the latter having itsfree end at tached to said tube at a point intermediate oi its ends.

3. An inflatable bag provided with an inflatin tube movable into and outof said bag and closed at its inner. end but apertured laterallyadjacent thereto, and a sealing device comprising a core adapted to beinserted in l to engage it at the laterally said tube and aperturedportion, and a handle-forming projection at the outer end oi said core.

1. An inflatable bag provided with an in.- fiating tube movable into andout of said bag, and a sealing device comprising a core adapt-' ed forinsertion into said tube and a flexible sealing sheath attached to theouter portion of said core and adapted to be rolled lengthwise thereofand to surround said inflati tube.

5. An inflatable bag provided with an inflating tube movable into andout of said bag and provided with longitudinal reinforcing strips tominimize its longitudinal stretching. a plate surrounding the outer endof said tube and having slits through which the said strips areextended, and a device for sealing said tube.

6. A sealing device for the inflating tube an inflatable bag, comprisinga core adapt for insertion into such tube and provid d with a con. tionat the outer portion'o'l the core, and a flexible handle secured to thecore at said constriction.

7. A sealing device for the inflating tube of an inflatable bag,con'iprisingz; a core adapted tor insertion into such tube and flexiblesealing sheath attached to the outer portion of said core and adapted tobe rolled lengthwise thereof and to surround said tube.

8. Pin inflatable bag provided with a nipple movable into and out of thebag, and an inflating tube attached to the nipple and pro jectingbothinwardly and outwardly from its point of attachment to said nipple.

9. A device for closing the air bladder for sport balls or the like,comprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting tubularextension of said air bladder, an air tube in said extension of thebladder, said extension and air tube adapted to be telescoped from aposition outside the air bladder to a position inside the air bladder, astopper to be inserted into the upper end of said air tube, and anelastic cap on said stopper adapted to be slipped down over upon saidair tube so that when the cylindrical extension and air tube are forcedinto the filled bladder the cap will lie between said air tube and saidextension.

10. A device for closing the air bladder for sport balls or the like,comprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting cylindricalextension of said air bladder, an

' air tube secured at a point between its ends in said extension of thebladder, said extension and air tube adapted to be telescoped from aposition outside the air bladder to a position inside the air bladder, astopper to be inserted into the upper end of said air tube, and anelastic cap secured to the outer end of and said stopper adapted to beslipped down over upon the upper end of said air tube so as to liebetween the same and the cylindrical extension when said air tube andextension are forced into the filled bladder.

11. A device for closing the air bladder for sport balls or the like,comprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting tubularextension of said air bladder, an air tube secured in said extension ofthe bladder, and projecting outwardly beyond the same, a stopper to beinserted into the outer end of said air tube, and an elastic cap on saidstopper adapted to be slipped down over the outer side of said air tube.

12. A device for closing the air bladder for sport balls or the likecomprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting tubularextension of said air bladder, an air tube in said extension of thebladder, said air tube being rigidly connected with the upper edge ofsaid projecting extension of the bladder, a stopper to be inserted intothe upper end of said air tube, and an elastic cap secured at its upperend to said stopper and having a beaded lower edge, said cap adapted tobe slipped down over upon the cylindrical extension after the insertionof the stopper into said air tube.

13. A device fdr closing the air bladder for sport balls or the like,comprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting tubularextension of said air bladder, an air tube in said extension of thebladder, said air tube being rigidly connected at a point intermediateof its length with the upper edge of said projecting extension of thebladder so that the lower portion of the air tube extends into saidprojecting extension of the bladder when the air tube is pulled out ofthe bladder for inflating purposes, a stopper to be inserted into theupper end of said air tube, andan elastic cap on said stopper secured atits upper edge to the stopper and adapted to be slipped down over uponthe outer side of said air tube so that when the extension and air tubeare forced into the filled bladder the sleeve will lie between saidtubular extension of the air bladder and the air tube.

14. A device for closingthe air bladder for sport balls or the like,comprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting tubularextension of said air bladder, an air tube in said extension of thebladder, said air tube being rigidly connected with the upper edge ofsaid projecting extension of the bladder so that the lower portion ofthe air tube which is open at the lower end extends into said projectingextension of the bladder when the air tube is pulled out for inflatingpurposes, a stopper to be inserted into the upper end of said air tube,and an elastic cap secured at its upper end to said stopper and having abeaded lower edge, said cap adapted to he slipped down over said airtube so that when the air tube and tubular extension are forced into thefilled bladder the sleeve will lie between the air tube and tubularextension with its beaded edge impinging firmly against the latter.

15. A device for closing the air bladder for sport balls or the like,comprising in combination with the air bladder, a projecting tubularextension of said air bladder, an air tube in said extension of thebladder, said air tube being rigidly connected with the upper edge ofsaid projecting extension of the bladder so that the lower portion ofthe air tube which is closed at the lower end but has lateral air holesextends into said projecting extension of the bladder when the air tubeis pulled out for inflating purposes, a stopper to be inserted into theupper end of said air tube, an elastic cap on said stopper adapted to beslipped down over said air tube so as to lie between the tube andtubular extension of the air bladder when said air tube and extensionare forced into the filled bladder, and a disk at the upper end of thestopper.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MAX WILHELM IDEN.

